Author: Trainee Reporter

England: A groundbreaking gene therapy, costing over £1.6 million per treatment, will soon be available to patients in England with an inherited blood disorder, making them the first in Europe to benefit from it, remarked by the National health service (NHS). The treatment, known as Casgevy (also referred to as exa-cel), utilises ‘molecular scissors’ to rectify a damaged gene responsible for the debilitating condition beta thalassaemia. Clinical trials have shown that approximately 90% of patients were cured by the primary treatment with Casgevy. Currently, individuals severely affected by the disease require frequent blood transfusions, as their red blood cells fail…

Vienna: Three of the scheduled shows of pop singer Taylor Swift in Vienna have been cancelled due to a potential security risk. The shows which was the part of Swift’s Eras tour, had been scheduled to be at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Previous day, two persons were detained on suspicion of organizing Islamic attacks on major gatherings in the vicinity of the Austrian capital. A statement from the organisers stated that, “Due to confirmation by government officials of a planned terrorist attack at the Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the…

United Kingdom: Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has dealt a blow to the Conservative Party by winning several regional mayoral polls. After a disappointing series of local council results, the Tories were hoping for a victory from incumbent Andy Street in the West Midlands. However, Street lost to Labour’s Richard Parker by a narrow margin of just 1,508 votes, further damaging the position of Chancellor Rishi Sunak. With a general election expected to take place within months, the Prime Minister now faces the challenge of rallying his party and rebuilding their morale. The Conservatives suffered a loss in the West Midlands, which was verified after a nail-biting…

London: King Charles III has visited a London cancer treatment centre where he shared his experiences after being diagnosed with cancer. In his first public-facing engagement since his diagnosis, he and the queen met cancer specialists and patients receiving chemotherapy at the University College hospital’s Macmillan Cancer Centre in a visit aimed at highlighting the importance of early diagnosis. His Majesty offered compassion to a cancer patient who was receiving chemotherapy alongside many others. He expressed that being diagnosed with cancer is always a shock. When asked about his health, the monarch responded to one patient that, “I’m all right, thank you very much, not too bad.” Another patient,…

Brussels: The European Commission has initiated an inquiry into social media giant Meta for spreading false information. The EU charged the US-based organisation, which operates Facebook and Instagram, with disregarding online content regulations in the bloc. In light of the upcoming EU elections in June, Brussels is strengthening its measures to combat the spread of misinformation. The commission stated that Meta’s moderation exertions are not enough in addressing deceptive advertising and disinformation. The Digital Services Act (DSA) that reached impact last year requires that ‘Big Tech’ take further movement in countering destructive and illegal content present on social media platforms. EU digital chief Margrethe Vestager remarked in a statement that, “We suspect that Meta’s moderation is…

Beijing: China has hosted unity talks to resolve differences and facilitate reconciliation between the rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing affirmed that representatives of each group were assembled at the gathering. Fatah, which governs the West Bank, and Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, conflicted for years, but the contemporary Israeli war in Gaza increased curiosity in discovering a resolution to their differences and achieving Palestinian unity. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, did not pinpoint when the conference between the two parties took place, but they visited China for a thorough and genuine talk on…

Manila: China has been charged by the Philippines for destructive activities and obstacles and reinstalling a barrier at the disputed Scarborough Shoal. It was blockaded and seized from Manila in 2012 by Beijing. According to Jay Tarriela, spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), two Philippine ships on navigational patrol faced four China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and six crafts from its marine militia in the area. A ship from the PCG and another from CCG were involved in a water cannon incident near a shoal called Bajo de Masinloc. The attack took place around 12 nautical miles (22 kilometres) away…

United Kingdom: The UK Government has proposed an updated NHS Constitution which will allow patients to get quick reviews and volunteers to be recognised. The new constitution prioritises the privacy, dignity, and safety of all patients and seeks to shape the regulations and importance that manage the National Health Services (NHS). Under the suggested transformations, patients will hold the right to solicit that private care be taken out by somebody of the same biological sex, where politely potential. The proposed update to the NHS Constitution aims to strengthen the NHS’s dedication to delivering single-sex wards. It is stressed that setting transgender patients in single-room accommodation…

Dubai: The ruler of Dubai has announced the start of construction on a $35 billion airport terminal that will become the world’s largest once completed. The new terminal, which is being built to handle up to 260 million passengers annually, will be five times bigger than the existing Dubai International Airport. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s Prime Minister and Vice President, made the announcement. The Prime Minister stated that in the coming years, all operations at Dubai International Airport would transfer to the forthcoming Al Maktoum International Airport. The Dubai PM said in a post on X that, “As we build an entire city around the airport…

United Kingdom: UNICEF and UK have united to launch a programme to boost the health and nutrition of vulnerable pregnant women and young children in Somalia. The development phase of the Better Lives for Somali Women and Children program was launched by the British Embassy in Mogadishu in collaboration with UNICEF, Mercy USA, Trocaire, Save the Children, Action Against Hunger and the Federal Government of Somalia. This innovative programme is aimed at improving the lives of Somalia’s most vulnerable and is the UK’s flagship health and nutrition partnership with the Federal Government of Somalia. The United Kingdom pledged £38 million from October 2023 to…